One day, while I was at the seashore, one of the Companions of Allahâ€™s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) came up to me and said: â€œO Abu Hazim, do you know how to perform the ritual prayer?â€

â€œHow could I not know how to perform the ritual prayerâ€, said I, â€œsince I am thoroughly familiar with its strictly obligatory elements, as well as with the customary observances [ma ‘stanna] established by Allahâ€™s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace)?â€

â€¦.

â€œHe said: â€˜With what do you mark the opening of the ritual prayerâ€™ â€œI said: â€˜With the affirmation of Allahâ€™s Supreme Greatness [bi’t’takblr].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what [element of the prayer] is its manifest proof [burhan]?â€ â€œI said: â€˜Its Qurâ€™anic recitation [qira’a].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is its jewel, its very essence [jawhar]?â€™ â€œ1 said: â€˜Its glorification [of the Lord] [tasbih].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is its animation [ihya] â€œI said: â€˜Its humble submission [khushu ].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is its humble submission [khushu’]?â€™ â€œI said: â€˜Fixing oneâ€™s gaze on the spot where the act of prostration [sujud] is to be performed.â€™ â€˜He said: â€˜And what is its solemn dignity [waqar] â€œI said: â€˜Its state of calm tranquility [sukun].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is its consecration [tahrim]?â€™ â€œI said: â€˜The [initial] declaration of Allahâ€™s Supreme Greatness takbir].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is its deconsecration [tahlil].â€™ â€œI said: â€˜The [concluding] salutation [taslim].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is its emblem [shi ar]? â€œI said: â€˜The glorification [of the Lord] [tasbih] when its performance has been duly completed.â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is the key to all of that, O Abu Hazim?â€™ â€œI said: â€˜The ritual ablution [wudu].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is the key to the ritual ablution [miftah al-wudu]?â€ â€œI said: The invocation of Allahâ€™s Name [tasmiya (Bismillah)]. â€œHe said: â€˜And what is the key to the invocation of Allahâ€™s Name [miftah at-tasmiya]â€˜!â€™ â€œI said: The intention [niyya].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is the key to the intention [miftah an-niyyaj]? â€œI said: â€˜Certitude [yaqin].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is the key to certitude [miftah al-yaqin]?.â€™ â€œI said: â€˜Absolute trust [in the Lord] [tawakkul].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is the key to absolute trust [miftah at-tawakkul]â€ â€œI said: â€˜Fear [khawf]â€ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is the key to fear [miftah al-khawf]? â€œI said: â€˜Hope [raja’].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is the key to hope [miftah ar-raja]? â€œI said: â€˜Patience [sabr].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is the key to patience [miftah as-sabr]?â€™ â€œI said: â€˜Contentment [rida].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is the key to contentment [miftah ar-rida]â€˜!â€™ â€œI said: â€˜Worshipful obedience [ta’a] â€œHe said: â€˜And what is the key to worshipful obedience [miftah at-ta’a]?â€ â€œI said: â€˜Acknowledgment [of truth and reality] [i’tiraf]â€˜ â€œHe said: â€˜And what is the key to acknowledgment [of truth and reality] [miftah al-i’tiraf]? â€œI said: â€˜Acknowledgment of the Divine Oneness and Lordship [at-i’tiraf bi’l-wahdaniyya wa r-rububiyya]â€˜ â€œHe said: â€˜And by what means did you become acquainted with all of that?â€™ â€œI said: Through knowledge [ilm].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And by what means did you acquire knowledge [ilm]? â€œI said: Through the process of learning [ta allum].â€™ â€œHe said: â€˜And by what means did you pursue the process of le [ta allum].â€™ â€œI said: Through intelligence [aql] â€œHe said: â€œAnd by what means did you acquire intelligence [aql]?â€ â€œI said: There are two kinds of intelligence. For the making of one kind of intelligence, Allah is solely responsible, to the exclusion of His creatures. The other kind of intelligence is one that human beings can develop, through the discipline of training and education. When the two kinds are combined together as a team, each of them assists and supports the other.â€ â€œHe said: â€˜And by what means did you accomplish all of that?â€ I said: â€œThrough the enabling grace of Allah. May Allah enable us, and you, to succeed in achieving that which is worthy of love and approvalâ€™